Turbine.



R. C. FRHLIGH. TURBNE,

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1e, 190e.

Patented Nov. 10, 1908.

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R. C. FRHLICH.

TURBINE.

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TURBINE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 10, 1908.

Application led May 16, 1908. Serial No. 433,222.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that l, RICHARD C. FRHLICH, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Rotary Engine or Turbine, of whichv the following is a specification:

This invention relates to a rotary engine or turbine in which the motive fluid is utilized to the fullest extent, in other words, the fluid is delivered to the driving wheels to produce the most effective rotation thereof.

lt is well known that a motive fluid, as steam, in striking the blades of a turbine loses very greatly in efficiency unless the nozzles delivering the motive fluid are so disposed as to produce a force acting tangentially to the driving wheel. Urdinarily the nozzles of a turbine, say of the horizontal axial flow type, deliver the motive fluid against the blades at such an angle that a large portion of the effective working force is lost.

lt is the object of my invention to deliver the motive fluid, preferably to this type of turbine, at the most effective angle and after it has actuated one wheel to carry a portion of the same to the next wheel and deliver it again at a substantial tangent to the periphery thereof in order to obtain the desired effect.

lt consists of a plurality of driving wheels mounted on a shaft at suitable distances apart, in order to provide spaces for the usual stationary distributing wheels and each driving wheel is provided with a motive fluid inlet nozzle so arranged as to project the motive fluid tangent to the periphery of the wheel and against the blades.

It further consists of a conduit or a plurality of conduits connecting the exhaust port of one wheel with the inlet nozzle of the adjacent wheel, whereby a series relation between the several wheels is established.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawings one form thereof which is at present preferred by me, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Figure l represents a plan of a steam turbine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents an end elevation from the motive fluid inlet end. Fig. 3 represents an end elevation from the exhaust end thereof. Fig. 4 represents a longitudinal section of my turbine. Fig. 5 represents a perspective of one of the wheels. Fig. 6 represents a detail of a valve disk. Fig. 7 represents a detail of a partition member. Fig. 8 represents a section in detail showing the means of securing the parts vof a wheel together. Fig. 9 represents a section through a wheel showing the manner of fastening the blades. Figs. 10 and 1l represent details of the nozzle structure.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the shaft of a turbine preferably of the type known as a horizontal axial iow and the same is mounted in suitable bearings 2 and 3. In order to take up the end thrust of the machine suitable collars t are secured to the shaft l and operate in annular recesses cut in the respective bearings 2 and 3.

vSecured to the shaft l are a plurality of driving wheels 5, 5a, 5b and 5C suitably spaced apart for a purpose to be hereinafter described. These driving wheels are each formed preferably of hubs 6 and 7 having mounted thereon a set of blades S which are so disposed on the respective hubs 6 and 7 as to be in opposite relation to each other. lt will be apparent that when the two hubs are united together the blades 8 will be brought into contact at one edge and form a plurality of substantially V-shaped buckets against which the motive fluid impinges to drive the wheel. In the present instance these blades have a dove-tail enlargement 9 adapted to coperate with a groove 10 of similar shape in the hub 6 or 7, whereby a secure fastening for the blade is obtained.

It is well known that in a turbine wheel revolving at a high speed there is a very strong centrifugal action exerted around its periphery which tends to loosen and even pull out the blades which drive the wheels. In order to effect a practical permanent jointing of the blades 8 to their respective 1 hubs 6 and 7 in addition to the dove-tail joint, I provide a fastening means herein shown as a screw 11 passing through from one hub to the other and engaging in its path the dove-tail portion of the blades 8. It will be understood that the hubs 6 and 7 forming the wheel 5 are fastened in any suitable manner to the shaft 1 preferably being keyed thereto in any well known manner. present instance, I disclose four wheels mounted on the shaft 1 although of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact number, as they may be multiplied as desired without changing the novel construction herein set forth. Three of the wheels are spaced apart to provide for stationary distributing wheels 12 and 13 each of which consists of a stationary member having blades 14 thereon suitably positioned relative to the blades 8 of the driving wheels and having secured on one side a disk 15 provided with openings 16 therein whereby a nozzle effect is obtained around the circumference of the disk members. These distributing wheels are .loosely mounted on the shaft 1 and are secured in any suitable manner against rotation therewith, preferably being fast to an inclosing casing to be hereinafter referred to. The function performed by these stationary wheels is to receive a portion of the motive fluid as it leaves one driving wheel and divert the direction of its flow so as to deliver the same as effectually as possible against the blades of the next adjacent driving wheel. The blades 14 of the stationary wheels are accurately spaced apart and at such an angle as to present the smallest amount of resistance to the flow of the fluid and still alter its course properly. It will be noted that the disks 15 serve to form a nozzle effect for each chamber between the blades 14, the design being such as not to create any back pressure.

17 designates a space formed between two of the driving wheels and of sufficient size y yto perform the function of a receiver for motive fluid exhausted from the other wheels.

One side of the space is formed by a partition disk 18 `and the other side by a hub 19 of substantially the same diameter as the hub 7 of the driving wheel. This hub 19 has secured thereto, preferably intergral therewith, a number of wing segments 19a which are adapted to form closures over certain of the Y openings between the driving wheel blades nwhereby too rapid escape of the motive fluid is prevented. A disk 20 having segmental wings similar to disk 19 is mount! ed in like relationl to the wheel 5c and controlling tlie passage of the motive Huid from this wheel to the exhaust outlet 21.

Inclosing the wheel structure is a substantially cylindrical casing 22 provided with suitable closures 22x and 23 at the ends thereof the jointing being such as to pre- In theV vent any leakage at these points. Secured to the casingr22 and preferablyintegral vrtherewith are a series of fiuid conduits 24,

25 and 26 communicatingrespectively with Vthe several chambers in which the driving wheels are located, and a conduit or pipe 27 carrying a portion of the exhaust of wheel 5b to wheel 5c and bridging the lreceiver space 17. 1n order to afford communication between the receiver space 17 a conduit 28 is provided connecting the saine with the ad mission of wheel space 5.

29 designates the motive fluid inlet communicating with the conduit 24 and which latter leads the fluid to a nozzle 30 disposed adjacent the blades of the driving wheels, and also conducts the fluid to a second nozzle 31 located at a point on the circumference somewhat removed from the nozzle 30, whereby the fluid engages the buckets on the first wheel 5 at two separate points. As soon as the fluid has completed its work upon the blades of the wheel 5 two paths are open for the exhaust therefrom, the one leading axially of the turbine and passing through a stationary distributing wheel and the other through the conduit 25 which latter conducts it to a nozzle 32 positioned to deliver the fluid tangentially to the next adjacent wheel 5a. It will be understood that the conduits 27 and 28 serve a similar purpose and direct the exhaust fluid to similar nozzles 32 in an adjacent wheel. These nozzles 32 are clearly .illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 and are provided with an end 33 cut on the arc of a circle in order that the nozzles may feed closely to the wheel to which each is adjacent. The nozzles are provided preferably with an inlet 34 communicating with a conduit and a nozzle outlet 35, whereby the motive fluid is expanded and delivered against the blades of the driving wheel. It will be noted that these nozzles are provided with a union 36 normally closed by the plug 37, which is adapted to receive a gage, whereby testing of the pressure in the nozzles may be accomplished. It will be seen that by this arrangement of nozzles the steam enters the turbine at the points in a line tangential to the periphery of the driving wheels and strikes the buckets in a most efiicient manner.

Attention is particularly directed to the varying size of the several driving wheels in that the diameter of the wheel nearest ioo iio

the fluid inlet 29 is the smallest of the set bucket 5 so that it divides a portion passing through the nozzle 30 and the remaining portion passing through channel 24 to the nozzle 8l from both of which nozzles it emerges at a very high velocity and strikes the blades 8 of the first wheel 5. From this wheel an exhaust is provided to the distributing chambers 12 and to the conduit 25 so that again the path of the fluid is divided, a portion passing through the distributer and nozzle effect 16 to contact with the next adjacent wheel 5a while the remaining portion passes exterior of the casing 2l through the channel 25 and enters by means of a nozzle 32 tangent to the wheel 5a. nEhe exhaust from the wheel 5a is similarly divided by the paths through the conduit 26 and the distributer 13. From the wheel 5b a portion of the exhaust is led by the conductor 27 to the nozzle communicating with the wheel 5c while the remaining portion is choked back by the segmental disk 19 and enters the receiving chamber 17 from which it passes by means of the conduit 28 to a second nozzle also communicating with the disk 5. From this last disk the steam passes through a second segmental disk 2O and exhausts through the outlet 2l. lt will be apparent that I have devised a very efficient turbine structure in that l ani enabled to drive each Wheel by a jet of motive fluid directed tangentially to the periphery of the wheel whereby the most ett'ective working pressure is utilized.

incidental to the nozzle structure there is an additional horizontal flow of steam from one wheel to another passing through stationary disks or distributers positioned as usual in this type of turbine. Furthermore, l have provided a rotary engine comprising few parts whereby weight of the material in its construction is greatly lessened, the complete machine occupies less space and is exceedingly economical in its up-keep.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a turbine, a shaft, a plurality of driving wheels on said shaft, a stationary wheel between said driving wheels, a plu ality of tangential steam inlets to each driving wheel, a plurality of axial iiow inlets to each stationary wheel a casing inclosing said wheels and a steam outlet from said casing.

2. In a turbine, a shaft, a plurality of driving wheels spaced apart on said shaft, a stationary wheel in each space, blades on each stationary wheel a plurality of tangential fluid inlets for said driving wheels, a plurality of axial flow inlets for each stationary wheel a casing inclosing said wheels and an exhaust outlet from said casing.

3. In a turbine, a shaft, a plurality of driving wheels spaced apart thereon, a stationary wheel in each space, blades on each stationary wheel, a plurality of axial liow inlets for each stationary wheel, a casing inclosing said wheels, a plurality of tangential fluid inlets to said casing, a plurality of conduits connected to said inlets and communieating with an adjacent driving wheel space, and an exhaust outlet from said conduit.

a. ln a turbine, a shaft, a plurality of driving wheels spaced apart thereon, a stationary wheel in each space, a plurality of axial flow inlets for each distributing wheel a steam inlet communicating with one driving wheel through a plurality of nozzles, an exhaust conduit from said driving wheel connected. to a tangential nozzle on an adjacent driving wheel, a second exhaust conduit leading from said last named driving wheel to a tangential nozzle on an adjacent driving wheel, and a casing inclosing said driving wheels, and a common exhaust from said casing.

5. In a turbine, a shaft, a plurality of driving wheels thereon, a stationary wheel between said driving wheels, a casing inclosing said wheels, a plurality of motive fluid inlets tangentially arranged relative to one driving wheel, a plurality of axial flow inlets adjacent said stationary wheel, an exhaust conduit from said wheel connectel to an inlet nozzle for the next adjacent driving wheel, and an exhaust outlet from said casing.

6. In a turbine, a casing, a shaft in said casing, a partition disk on said shaft, a plurality of driving wheels spaced apart in the chamber formed on one side of said disk, a stationary wheel in the spaces between the driving wheels, a plurality of fluid inlets tangentially arranged relative to said driving' wheels, a plurality of axial 'How inlets arranged relative to said stationary wheel a driving wheel in the chamber formed on the opposite side of said partition disk, a steam conduit connecting said chambers, and an exhaust outlet from said casing.

7. ln a turbine, a driving wheel comprising a plurality of hubs, blades for said hubs, a dove-tail oint between said blades and hubs, and means to secure said hubs together.

8. ln a turbine, a driving wheel formed of a plurality of hubs, blades on each hub and angularly disposed relative to adjacent blades, a dove-tail joint between each blade and hub, 4and means to secure said hubs together.

9. ln a turbine, a driving wheel formed of a plurality of hubs secured together, angularly disposed blades on said hubs, a dovetail joint between each blade and hub, and securbing means passing through said joint and hu arci-IARD o. mounten.

`Witnesses ROBERT M. BARR, C. D. MCVAY. 

